Opportunity Information: Apply for DFOP0018816
Apply for DFOP0018816
- The Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2026 Community Solutions Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.415.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-06-24.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-07-23. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $3,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others.
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Opportunity Summary:
The FY 2026 Community Solutions Program (CSP) is a U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) funding opportunity to select one organization to design and run an international exchange program focused on regional economic growth and community-driven development. Managed by ECA's Office of Citizen Exchanges, Global Leaders Division, the program is built around a practical idea: many U.S. communities grow and stay competitive by organizing locally around what they do best, such as strengthening key industries, supporting entrepreneurship, and coordinating business, workforce, and civic leadership to deliver measurable economic results. CSP is meant to expose rising community leaders from abroad to these proven U.S. approaches and connect them directly with American counterparts who are actively doing the work.
Through a three- to four-month exchange in the United States, the program will place roughly 50 to 60 international participants, generally ages 27 to 39, into hands-on professional assignments with U.S. host organizations and partners. The emphasis is on applied learning rather than observation only: participants are expected to work alongside American practitioners on real-world initiatives tied to local economic growth. Example sectors named in the opportunity include culinary industries and farm-to-table business models, entrepreneurship, hospitality and tourism, and technology and innovation, with flexibility for applicants to propose additional sectors aligned with the program's goals. A central theme across placements is the concept of regional industry clusters and locally driven strategies, showing how communities build ecosystems that attract talent, secure investment, start and scale businesses, and ultimately strengthen local economies.
The award will be made as a cooperative agreement, which signals substantial involvement by the U.S. government during implementation, typically including collaboration on planning, oversight, and key program elements. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding, with an award ceiling of $3,000,000 and an expectation of a single award recipient. Eligible applicants include U.S.-based public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status (including those that are not institutions of higher education), as well as other eligible entities as defined in the full Notice of Funding Opportunity. The program is listed under CFDA number 19.415. The funding opportunity number is DFOP0018816, and the application deadline is July 23, 2026.
In practical terms, a successful applicant would be proposing an end-to-end program design and management approach: recruiting and selecting participants in the target age range, developing partnerships with U.S. communities and host organizations, arranging and supporting multi-month professional placements, and ensuring the exchange experience clearly demonstrates how American regional economic strategies work on the ground. The placements are intended to illustrate the mechanics of local success, such as cross-sector coordination, talent pipelines, investment attraction, entrepreneurship support, and cluster-based development, while also building lasting professional relationships between international participants and U.S. counterparts. For the full set of required components, allowable activities, compliance expectations, and evaluation requirements, applicants are directed to the official Notice of Funding Opportunity.
FY 2026 Community Solutions Program (CSP) - FAQs
What is the FY 2026 Community Solutions Program (CSP)?
The FY 2026 Community Solutions Program (CSP) is a U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) funding opportunity to select one organization to design and run an international exchange program focused on regional economic growth and community-driven development.
Which U.S. government office manages CSP?
CSP is managed by ECA's Office of Citizen Exchanges, Global Leaders Division.
What is the main purpose of CSP?
The program is designed to expose rising community leaders from abroad to practical U.S. approaches for local and regional economic growth, including community organizing around key strengths such as industry development, entrepreneurship support, and coordination among business, workforce, and civic leadership to achieve measurable economic results.
What kind of exchange experience does CSP emphasize?
CSP emphasizes applied, hands-on learning through professional assignments in the United States. Participants are expected to work alongside American practitioners on real-world initiatives tied to local economic growth, rather than only observing.
How long is the exchange program?
The exchange is described as a three- to four-month program in the United States.
How many participants are expected to take part?
The program will place roughly 50 to 60 international participants into professional assignments with U.S. host organizations and partners.
Who are the expected participants (age range)?
Participants are generally expected to be ages 27 to 39.
Where does the exchange take place?
The exchange takes place in the United States, with participants placed at U.S. host organizations and partners.
What kinds of sectors or focus areas are mentioned for participant placements?
Example sectors named include culinary industries and farm-to-table business models, entrepreneurship, hospitality and tourism, and technology and innovation. The opportunity also notes flexibility for applicants to propose additional sectors aligned with the program's goals.
What is the overarching theme that connects the placements?
A central theme is regional industry clusters and locally driven strategies, showing how communities build ecosystems that attract talent, secure investment, start and scale businesses, and strengthen local economies.
What is meant by "regional industry clusters" in the context of this program?
In this opportunity, regional industry clusters refer to locally driven strategies where communities coordinate across sectors to strengthen a set of related industries and supporting institutions, helping attract talent and investment, support entrepreneurship, and improve economic performance.
What type of award is being offered?
The award will be made as a cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that the award is a "cooperative agreement"?
A cooperative agreement signals substantial involvement by the U.S. government during implementation, typically including collaboration on planning, oversight, and key program elements.
Is this opportunity competitive or discretionary?
The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding.
How many awards are expected to be made?
The opportunity indicates an expectation of a single award recipient.
What is the maximum funding amount available (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $3,000,000.
Who is eligible to apply for this funding opportunity?
Eligible applicants include U.S.-based public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status (including those that are not institutions of higher education), as well as other eligible entities as defined in the full Notice of Funding Opportunity.
Is this opportunity limited to U.S.-based applicants?
The eligibility description provided specifies U.S.-based institutions of higher education and U.S. nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status, along with other eligible entities as defined in the full Notice of Funding Opportunity.
What are the required responsibilities of the award recipient?
A successful applicant is expected to propose an end-to-end program design and management approach, including recruiting and selecting participants in the target age range, developing partnerships with U.S. communities and host organizations, arranging and supporting multi-month professional placements, and ensuring the exchange experience demonstrates how American regional economic strategies work on the ground.
What should professional placements demonstrate or cover?
Placements are intended to illustrate the mechanics of local economic success, including cross-sector coordination, talent pipelines, investment attraction, entrepreneurship support, and cluster-based development, while also building lasting professional relationships between international participants and U.S. counterparts.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The program is listed under CFDA number 19.415.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is DFOP0018816.
What is the application deadline?
The application deadline is July 23, 2026.
Where can applicants find the detailed requirements and compliance expectations?
Applicants are directed to the official Notice of Funding Opportunity for the full set of required components, allowable activities, compliance expectations, and evaluation requirements.
Does the opportunity specify allowable activities and evaluation requirements?
It indicates that allowable activities, compliance expectations, and evaluation requirements exist and are described in the official Notice of Funding Opportunity.
What kind of partnerships are expected as part of the program design?
The program design is expected to include developing partnerships with U.S. communities and U.S. host organizations and partners that can support hands-on professional assignments tied to local economic growth.
What is the intended outcome of connecting international participants with U.S. counterparts?
The program aims to connect international participants directly with American counterparts who are actively implementing local economic growth strategies, supporting applied learning and helping build lasting professional relationships.
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